All About Back Pain Treatments

Low Back Pain and Artificial Disc Replacement

Artificial disc replacement is not for all patients with low back pain and it does not replace the need for spinal fusion.

Minimally Invasive Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF): A Beneficial Union

Spinal surgery has advanced to a new level that utilizes Minimal Access Spinal Technologies (MAST). These innovative surgical techniques replace traditional open procedures.

Case Report: 50-Year-Old Male Treated with PRODISC®

Read about the experience of a 50-year-old man who underwent disc replacement surgery as a participant in the nonrandomized portion of the PRODISC® disc replacement trial.

Minimally Invasive TLIF

Although still being studied, the use and effectiveness of minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) seems to be very promising.

Physiatrist Education and Training

Physiatrists are doctors who, in addition to medical school, complete 4 additional years of postdoctoral residency training.

Artificial Disc Replacement

Orthopaedic surgeons have been engaged in research to offer an alternative to lumbar spinal fusion surgery; artificial spinal disc replacement.

Charité Artificial Disc and Degenerative Disc Disease

Although conventional treatment for a severely degenerated disc is spinal fusion, artificial disc replacement is becoming an alternative option.

Discharge Instructions for Microendoscopic Discectomy

Discharge instructions for patients who have undergone microendoscopic discectomy.

Cervical Spine Surgery: Recovery

What to expect immediately after surgery. Personal hygiene, sutures, IV therapy, diet and breathing are some of the topics covered in this article.

Maintaining Your Back for Your Lifetime

Describes how to maintain a healthy back after having undergone a spinal surgery.

Preoperative and Discharge Instructions for Cervical Fusion

Discharge instructions for patients who have undergone a cervical fusion.

Discharge Instructions for Lumbar Laminectomies and Discectomies

Discharge instructions for patients who have undergone lumbar laminectomies or discectomies.

Discharge Instructions for Anterior Cervical Fusions with Instrumentation

Discharge instructions for patients who have undergone anterior cervical fusions with instrumentation.

Discharge Instructions for Anterior and Posterior Cervical Fusion with Halo Placement

Discharge instructions for patients who have undergone anterior and posterior cervical fusion with halo placement.

Collar Care Instructions for Cervical Fusions

Collar care instructions for patients who have undergone cervical fusions.

Discharge Instructions for Lumbar Fusion Surgery

Collar care instructions for patients who have undergone lumbar fusions (anterior, posterior).

Kids with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Motivated to Wear Brace

Experts in the diagnosis and treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis comment on the positive effects of compliance counseling that motivated kids to wear their braces.

Coflex Device Shows ‘Similar to Superior’ Rates Compared to Fusion Surgery for Lumbar Stenosis

For moderate to severe lumbar stenosis, use of a motion-preserving stabilization device appears to be as effective as fusion when used in combination with decompression.

Transforaminal Selective Endoscopic Discectomy: Extremely Minimally Invasive Surgical Treatment for Low Back and Leg Pain

Selective Endoscopic Discectomy (SED) is an alternate treatment procedure for some chronic pain patients.

Basic Introduction to Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Learn all about the recently popularized approaches to spine surgery known as thoracoscopic,laparoscopic,endoscopic and minimally invasive procedures.

Predicting Return to Play following Lumbar Discectomy in Professional Football Players

Previous research by Dr. Hsu and colleagues demonstrated that younger age and greater experience were linked to increased likelihood of return to play following lumbar discectomy among NFL players.

FDA Proposes Labeling Changes to Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposes over-the-counter drug labeling changes to safeguard patients.

Pre-operative Steps to Spinal Surgery

In this article, you will learn about the pre-operative steps to help you prepare for your procedure.

Cervical Radiculopathy Treated Surgically on an Outpatient Basis

Cervical radiculopathies can now be treated surgically on an outpatient basis. A surgeon explains his preference for treating cervical radiculopathy(a type of neck pain) by the posterior approach (from the back of the neck) rather than by an anterior discectomy and fusion. Read about this minimally invasive spine surgery technique.

PRESTIGE

There are presently two artificial cervical disc replacement devices that are undergoing FDA approval study in the United States: the Bryan disc and the Prestige disc. This article discusses the Prestige disc

What is Cortisone and How is it Used to Treat Back and Neck Pain?

Doctor Lawrence Kamhi, an Interventional Pain Management specialist answers the question, "What is cortisone?"

Artificial Disc Surgery: Cervical Spine

If you need cervical spine surgery, you may be able to have an artificial disc put in. A neurosurgeon explains how artificial disc surgery differs from traditional fusion, and he reviews one artificial cervical disc.

Back Pain Treatment Options

This article discusses the most commonly used treatments for back pain available today, including drugs and medications to bring pain relief.

Drugs Used to Treat Pain: Opioids - Narcotics

Although the terminology is not precisely correct, pain-relieving opioids are often called narcotics, and they may be prescribed to treat many types of pain.

Safety First: Prescription Medications and You

Safety first! Prevent dangerous problems with prescription medications.

Laser Therapy Shines as an Alternative Complementary Treatment for Pain Management and Healing

Low level laser therapy, or "cold laser" has been found to be effective in treating many different conditions.

New Drug Development

With new research on disease comes new drug development. Here is a complete understanding of how new medications become a part of our lives.

Spinal Fusion and Bone Morphogenetic Protein

Fusions performed with rhBMP-2 are as effective as bone graft without the problems associated with a second surgical site.

Laparoscopic Spinal Fusion

By using special instrumentation and scopes, laparoscopic spinal fusion requires only a small incision in the back. There are numerous benefits to this approach, the most significant being reduced hospital stay and less recuperation time.

Physical Therapy Evaluation for Low Back Pain

A physical therapy evaluation includes a discussion of the patient's symptoms such as how pain developed, past episodes, and activities that aggravate the condition.

Video: Microendoscopic Spinal Surgery

Dr. Richard Fessler, a pioneer in minimally invasive spine surgery, explains the various techniques. He discusses microendoscopic spinal surgery in this video.

Effectiveness of Spinal Epidural Corticosteroid Injections

Physicans are seeing more patients with osteoarthritis, herniated discs and spinal stenosis. This trend is expected to continue as the American population ages.

Pain Control After Surgery: Breathing for Relaxation

Pain control after spine surgery may include breathing exercises for relaxation.

Laparoscopic Lumbar Spinal Techniques

Minimally invasive spine surgery may involve the use of endoscopes; devices that offer surgeons enhanced visualization capabilities that help to reduce complications, blood loss, and fusion disease.

Charité Artificial Disc: Single-Level Lumbar Disc Disease

Patients involved in the Charité Artificial Disc clinical trials reported a significant decrease in pain after the surgery.

Magnets: Findings from Scientific Studies and Clinical Trials

The research findings so far do not firmly support claims that magnets are effective for the treatment of pain.

Scrambler Therapy Treats Neuropathic and Chronic Low Back and Leg Pain

Scrambler technology (Calmare® Pain Therapy Treatment) is a non-invasive therapy that treats neuropathic and chronic pain by surface electro-stimulation.

Cervical Fusion

A cervical fusion can help relieve your neck pain. A neurosurgeon explains how after detailing the parts of your spinal anatomy that can cause neck pain.

Facet Rhizotomy Procedure: What to Expect

Information to help patients prepare for a facet rhizotomy and what to expect after the procedure. Facet rhizotomy is a pain management treatment option used for chronic pain.

Pain Control After Surgery: Methods You May Be Using

Pain control after surgery. This guide is provided by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research Public Health Service.

Non-deformity Spinal Bracing: What is the evidence?

Information about non-deformity spinal braces used to treat disorders such as whiplash.

Finding a Massage Therapist

The best way to find a massage therapist is to get a referral from a friend who gets massage therapy, a health professional who is knowledgable about alternative healthcare, or by contacting the American Massage Therapy Association.

I Still Have Back Pain! Now What?

For your back pain that won't go away, you can try a multidisciplinary approach. A combination of different treatments, such as massage, acupuncture, and core strengthening exercises, may bring relief from pain.

Discectomy and Microdiscectomy

Both a discectomy and a microdiscectomy are surgical procedures that are used to remove herniated or ruptured discs.

Back Pain and Degenerative Disc Disease: Are Artificial Discs the Solution?

Surgeons are excited about a new technology that could significantly help patients with degenerative disc disease. Learn why an artificial disc may be a better solution than lumbar fusion and how it could relieve pain caused by disc disease.

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All About Back Pain Treatments